[trip style = urban + food+wine]
I take Los Angeles very seriously—possibly even more seriously than it takes itself.
When I descend upon the City of Angels, very little is left up to chance. While I'm all for discovery and strolling through a destination like a bon vivant unhindered by time or money, LA demands a plan. There's too much to see. Too much to do. Too much to take in. {Mostly because the sprawling city surrounded by hills, dusted in glitter and sprayed by the Pacific Ocean offers every trip style in one stay.}
And so, instead of becoming overwhelmed by its never-ending neighborhoods and revolving door of what's new, I choose to embrace its spirit of re-invention, keeping a growing list on my iPhone of all the hotels, restaurants and shops I want to make part of my {ongoing} LA Story.
Because seriously, I don't want to leave a visit up to chance. Here are the standouts from my December 2014 LA-tinerary:
Eat
Superba Food + Bread: Because is there anything better than bread on a board {and a treat spread so tempting you have to order one of everything}?
LAMILL COFFEE: A reccurring stop on my long-time LA hit list. Think coffee so good you want to stick around for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Hart and the Hunter: Simple, everyday food "updid" with a Southern twang.
L.A. Chapter: A breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks brasserie bringing a dose of Brooklyn to the Ace Hotel Downtown LA.
Moon Juice: With juice so good {for you}, you'll make Jim Carrey faces as you sip.
eggslut: Once a food truck {I visited three years ago}, it's now a brick and mortar serving breakfast-fabulous food all day long. Visit early or in off-hours to avoid the line.
Breakfast at eggslut
DTLA Cheese at Grand Central Market: A 1917-built ode to food in the heart of downtown LA featuring a smorgasbord of hip chow from eggslut to bakeries and taco shops to pizzerias.
Bottega Louie: It's rare for me to visit LA without making a stop at Bottega because of their macarons, impeccable marble-clad environs and Italy-meets-West-Coast cuisine.
TERRONI Downtown LA: Born in Italy, based in Toronto and bre{a}d in LA.
Commissary: Where a veggie garden had a baby with old-school comfort food at The Line Hotel.
A portion of my dinner at Commissary
*You may notice many of the restaurants above appear empty... That's because I went midweek during off-hours to avoid waiting because I was traveling with Baby Styler.
Stay
Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles: My stay for part one of my LA-tinerary. With cool restaurants, a rooftop pool and bar, included WiFi and rooms with their own guitars, how could I refuse?
Ace lobby
Ace room
Ace room
The Line Hotel: Koreatown's hippest hotel
The Line
The Line room
Shop
There is soooo much shopping I could have done in LA, but my time was tight so I focused on my first love: Purses from Clare V. I've worn one of her bags for the past five years and since it held its shape and looks near-new after a half-decade, I decided to add to my collection.
Related
Spotlight :: LA Food + Fun
Spotlight :: LA Shop + Stay
LA in a Flash
LA Stories
The Savvy Traveler :: Leighann
[photos by @tripstyler]